Opener disk blade scraper hinge geometry to maintain contact with deflected disk blade

Abstract

An agricultural machine includes a disk blade assembly having a hub and a disk blade mounted to the hub. The hub has a perimeter. The disk blade is deflectable by ground forces in an area outside of the hub. A scraper assembly includes a mount, a scraper blade, and a hinge pivotally interconnecting the scraper blade with the mount. The hinge has an axis of rotation which passes through a point generally at or near a bottom of the hub perimeter, and generally coincident with the disk blade.

1. An agricultural machine, comprising:
 a disk blade assembly including a hub and a disk blade mounted to said hub, said hub having a perimeter and an axis of rotation; and 
 a scraper assembly including:
 a mount; 
 a scraper blade including a scraper portion adjacent said disk blade; and 
 a hinge pivotally interconnecting said scraper blade with said mount, said hinge having an axis of rotation which intersects with said disk blade at a point which is at or immediately below a bottom of said perimeter of said disk blade hub, in an area beginning flexure of said disk blade as a result of ground forces applied to said disk blade, said hinge axis of rotation intersecting with a substantially vertical line passing through said hub axis of rotation and contacting at least a part of said disk blade substantially at said point, said point being located radially inwardly of said scraper portion of said scraper blade relative to said disk blade. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The agricultural machine of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially vertical line is generally coincident with said disk blade at said point. 
     
     
       3. The agricultural machine of  claim 1 , wherein said disk blade is substantially not deflectable by ground forces in an area of said hub, and said disk blade is deflectable by ground forces in an area below said hub. 
     
     
       4. The agricultural machine of  claim 1 , wherein said agricultural machine is one of a seeding machine and a chemical applicator. 
     
     
       5. An agricultural machine, comprising:
 a disk blade assembly including a hub and a disk blade mounted to said hub, said hub having an axis of rotation and a perimeter; and 
 a scraper assembly including:
 a mount; 
 a scraper blade including a scraper portion adjacent said disk blade; and 
 a hinge pivotally interconnecting said scraper blade with said mount, said hinge having an axis of rotation intersecting with a substantially vertical line passing through said hub axis of rotation, said hinge axis of rotation further intersecting with said disk blade at an intersection point which is at or below a bottom of said hub perimeter, said substantially vertical line contacting at least a part of said disk blade substantially at said intersection point, said intersection point being located radially inwardly of said scraper portion of said scraper blade relative to said disk blade. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The agricultural machine of  claim 5 , wherein said disk blade is substantially not deflectable by ground forces in an area of said hub, and said disk blade is deflectable by ground forces in an area below said hub. 
     
     
       7. The agricultural machine of  claim 5 , wherein said agricultural machine is one of a seeding machine and a chemical applicator. 
     
     
       8. An agricultural machine, comprising:
 a disk blade assembly including a hub and a disk blade mounted to said hub, said hub having a perimeter and an axis of rotation, said disk blade being deflectable by ground forces in an area outside of and below said hub; and 
 a scraper assembly including:
 a mount; 
 a scraper blade including a scraper portion adjacent said disk blade; and 
 a hinge pivotally interconnecting said scraper blade with said mount, said hinge having an axis of rotation which intersects with said disk blade at a point which is at or below a bottom of said hub perimeter and which intersects with a substantially vertical line passing through said hub axis of rotation and contacting at least a part of said disk blade substantially at said point, said point being located radially inwardly of said scraper portion of said scraper blade relative to said disk blade. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The agricultural machine of  claim 8 , wherein said substantially vertical line is generally coincident with said disk blade at said point. 
     
     
       10. The agricultural machine of  claim 8 , wherein said disk blade is substantially not deflectable by ground forces in an area of said hub, and said disk blade is deflectable by ground forces in an area below said hub. 
     
     
       11. The agricultural machine of  claim 8 , wherein said agricultural machine is one of a seeding machine and a chemical applicator.